Washington, D.C., October 11, 2019
Photo: kyivpost.com
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will mark the 50th anniversary of his priesthood on October 19, and the U.S. House of Representatives has issued a special document in his honor for the occasion.
In the document, the Congressmen note the merits of Pat. Bartholomew and express their gratitude to him, reports John C. Ackerman, the Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder of Deeds in Illinois and Greek Orthodox Christian, who requested the recognition.
In honor of the anniversary, Representative Darin LaHood from Illinois presented a copy of the official commemorative article issued by the House on September 25 specifically for the occasion to Ackerman and Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Peoria, Illinois.
“His All Holiness was ordained as a priest on October 19th, 1969. Since that day, he has never ceased to make strides in religious studies and world peace. His services to our global society has had a positive impact on many lives” LaHood, a Roman Catholic, said.
“I am grateful for all that good that His All-Holiness is doing for Americans and for all people around the world. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reminds us that the positive efforts of even one person can be beneficial in the lives of countless people,” he added.
Photo: Facebook The honorary document will be presented to Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Archdiocese of America “with the warmest request to deliver it to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.”
The Illinois State House of Representatives earlier issued its own document in honor of Pat. Bartholomew’s upcoming anniversary.
“We recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Priesthood for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on October 19, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That we recognize the importance to Illinois, the United States, and to the world of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s leadership on matters of the environment, peace, and religion,” the document declares.
In 1997, Pat. Bartholomew became only the 5th religious figure in history to receive the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, an award that honors those “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient's field long after the achievement,” for his “outstanding and enduring contributions to peace and religious understanding.”
